UK rail union members vote to renew strike action

British rail workers have voted to continue taking industrial action in their ongoing dispute over pay and jobs, their union said on Wednesday.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said a fresh ballot of members, required under the UK’s strict employment laws, showed overwhelming support for action.

It said the average turnout among its members in Network Rail and 14 train operating companies was 70.2% with a ‘yes’ vote of more than 90%. Under the law that means they can take strike action for up to another six months.

“The National Executive Committee will now look at these fantastic results and negotiations will continue with Network Rail and the train operating companies,” said RMT general secretary Mick Lynch.

“This union is determined to continue with this campaign until the employers understand that they need to respond to our members’ aspirations on job security, pay and working conditions.”

Unions and Network Rail have been in intensive talks in the past week in an effort to resolve the long-running dispute. Hopes of a breakthrough rose after Grant Shapps was moved as transport minister during the short-lived tenure of Liz Truss as prime minister.

He had been accused by the RMT of blocking rail company representatives from trying to reach a settlement.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com